The ACCC is reviewing the mandatory safety standard for household cots .
The consultation paper provides information about the issues that are being considered during this review and sets out a proposal for how this safety standard could be updated.
Stakeholders are invited to make written submissions on the consultation paper by close of business 15 September 2014.
In addition to completing the questions, stakeholders are invited to provide detailed evidence-based comments to...More
On 24 July 2014, the ACCC commenced consultation on the primary price terms and conditions for the 2015 domestic transmission capacity service (DTCS) final access determination (FAD).
The ACCC seeks submissions from interested parties on the issues outlined in the DTCS FAD primary prices discussion paper by 5:00pm on 19 September 2014.
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The ACCC is considering an application to register a Certification Trade Mark (CTM) number 1605921 from Lifemark Village Pty Ltd (Lifemark).
Application
Lifemark’s CTM application is intended to allow retirement Villages and Village owners and/or operators to display the mark if they can demonstrate to an independent third party that they fulfil minimum operational and service requirements and are committed to continuous improvement.
ACCC role
Under Part 16 of the Trade...More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is seeking information from industry on products that use button and coin batteries, their compartment security and the warnings currently on products to inform the non-regulatory strategies proposed for reducing the hazard.
Suppliers are invited to complete the survey comprised of 12 questions by close of business 14 November 2014.
It is estimated the survey will require no more than 5-10 minutes to complete.
Note: Products...More
SCAMwatch.gov.au is a website that provides Australian consumers and small businesses with information about how to recognise, avoid and report scams. The website is maintained by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The ACCC is in the process of updating and improving the SCAMwatch website.
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The productsafety.gov.au and recalls.gov.au websites provide Australian consumers and businesses with information about product safety matters. The Recalls website updates daily with information on recalled products across Australia. The Product Safety website contains information for businesses and consumers on product safety matters, regulations and news alerts.
The ACCC has developed and administers the Product Safety website on behalf of all Australian consumer product safety...More
Please note: The ACCC has received a number of requests to extend the end date of consultation. The date has been extended to Wednesday 22 April to account for these requests, however stakeholders are encouraged to make submissions as soon as possible.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has prepared a draft regulation impact statement (RIS) to consider the options to limit consumer exposure to hazardous azo dyes in clothing, textiles and leather articles....More
The ACCC is considering an application to register Certification Trade Mark (CTM) number 1585884 from the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF).
Application
The ACF’s CTM application is intended to allow organisations to display the mark if they are accredited by the ACF under its Safeguarding Children Program as having best practice standards for protecting children and young people from abuse and exploitation whilst they participate in the organisation’s services and programs....More
Know the risks and protect yourself
Scams and cybercrime such as identity theft impose significant financial, legal and reputational costs on thousands of small businesses each year.
You are invited to attend a free forum hosted by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and the Institute of Public Accountants.
Hear from three subject-matter experts about the risks small businesses face and the steps they can take to protect themselves:
Dr Louis Geneste,...More
Darwin is the first regional location being studied by the ACCC under the new petrol monitoring arrangements announced by the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Bruce Billson MP, in December 2014.
The aims of this market study are to explain why prices are higher in Darwin relative to the larger capital cities and to explain each component of the prices paid at the bowser.
The ACCC is using its compulsory information gathering powers under Section 95ZK of the Competition and Consumer...More
The ACCC is consulting on criteria for accepting international product safety standards and risk assessments. The consultation paper (below) identifies the three draft criteria the ACCC will use when developing and reviewing product safety standards and bans.
The adoption of international standards and risk assessments supports the Government's overall objective to reduce the regulatory burden on business, community organisations, families and individuals.
Please review the...More
The ACCC is seeking consumer feedback on Coles’ proposed acquisition of nine Supabarn stores. We are holding a consumer forum with members of the public on Monday, 3 August 2015 from 6pm – 8pm in Canberra City. Further details, including the venue, will be provided to attendees after registration.
If you are unable to attend, we also welcome written submissions, which you can make following the instructions on the ACCC’s mergers public register . It contains more details about the...More
PROOF – Pasture Raised on Open Fields Pty Ltd advised the ACCC that it has written to IP Australia withdrawing its application to register CTM number 1635381. As a result, the ACCC’s role in considering the application has now ceased.
Application
Broadly, PROOF’s CTM is intended to provide consumers with “proof” that the products bearing one of the symbols below has been produced from animals that have been treated ethically and raised in a free range production system.
...More
Launceston is the second regional location being studied by the ACCC under the petrol monitoring arrangements announced by the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Bruce Billson MP, in December 2014.
The aims of this market study are to explain why prices are higher in Launceston relative to the larger capital cities and to explain each component of the prices paid at the bowser.
The ACCC is using its compulsory information gathering powers under Section 95ZK of the Competition and...More
The 2015 ACCC/AER Regulatory Conference will be held at the Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane on Thursday 6 th (commencing 8:30am) and Friday 7th August (finishing at 2pm).
The cost to attend the conference is $1500 per delegate, or $1400 for 3 or more delegates from the same organisation. Note, this does not include accommodation. The ACCC will provide for optional transfers between Brisbane Airport and the Sofitel via the Brisbane Airtrain, which stops directly beneath the Soifitel. Details will...More
The ACCC is consulting on a proposed NBN wholesale market indicators report which would bolster NBN wholesale market information.
At a high level information to be disclosed in the report would comprise:
Services in operation data through a variety of lenses – access seeker, technology, traffic class, speed tier and region
Network capacity data and
Services in operation data by access seeker for the Telstra network to enable comparison with the NBN market.
...More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is holding public forums for the review of the water charge rules. The water charge rules regulate how water infrastructure charges are set and applied and how information is published on water planning and management charges in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The public forums are an opportunity to discuss water charging arrangements and contribute to the ACCC’s advice on possible amendments to the water charge rules.
You can...More
The ACCC is consulting on proposed amendments to the Telecommunications Competition Notice Guidelines (the Guidelines).
The Guidelines document includes an overview of the competition notice regime as contained in Part XIB of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth). The Guidelines themselves set out the matters that the ACCC will consider when deciding whether to issue a competition notice and the appropriateness of the ACCC issuing competition notices as opposed to taking other action...More
Scamwatch.gov.au is a website that provides Australian consumers and small businesses with information about how to recognise, avoid and report scams. The website is maintained by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
In July 2015, the ACCC launched a new version of the Scamwatch website. We would greatly appreciate your honest feedback about your experiences using the new site. Your responses will be used to identify any features of the new website that can be...More
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) is consulting on the online accommodation booking sector in Australia.
This questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
In your responses you should consider any confidentiality clauses in the agreement you have signed and how much to disclose in the questions inviting free text comments.
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On 30 July 2015, Equestrian Australia (EA) lodged a notification with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). EA proposes to offer equestrian sports event services (Event Services) to owners and/or riders of equestrian sports horses who are members of EA (Entrants), on condition that, in certain circumstances, horses have been vaccinated against the Hendra virus. The ACCC is currently assessing that notification.
Further information about the notification and related...More
Armidale is the third regional location being studied by the ACCC under the petrol monitoring arrangements announced by the Minister for Small Business, the Hon Bruce Billson MP, in December 2014.
The aims of this market study are to explain why prices are higher in Armidale relative to the larger capital cities and to explain each component of the prices paid at the bowser.
The ACCC is using its compulsory information gathering powers under Section 95ZK of the Competition and Consumer...More
Thank you for taking part in the ACCC 2015 strategic review. By providing your input on what emerging issues you or your organisation have recently identified, you will help us learn what issues are affecting Australian consumers and small businesses. The survey will ask for you to provide examples of the issue and, where possible, some evidence of the conduct.
You can remain anonymous, or provide contact details so the ACCC can contact you about your answers.
This survey is about...More
On 6 November 2015, the ACCC released a report of its draft decision for the SBAS declaration inquiry. In the report the ACCC indicates that it intends to declare a superfast broadband access service for five years.
The ACCC invites submission on the draft decision by 4 December 2015.
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Dear Colleagues and EME users,
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) redeveloped its Energy Made Easy (EME) website during 2014-15, with it launching publicly on 25 June 2015. The redevelopment project aimed to improve the performance and functionality of the website, as well as improve the consumer experience when using the website. This project, EME Phase II, was primarily to enable the website to accommodate a greater volume of offers, including more complex time of use offers....More
The review of the water charge rules allows for multiple opportunities for stakeholder comment.
Following the release of the issues paper in May 2015, the ACCC conducted extensive face-to-face consultations with key stakeholders, including infrastructure operators, representative groups and Basin state governments.
This consultation also included holding a series of public forums in major irrigation communities across the Murray-Darling Basin where interested parties attended and...More
In 2016, the ACCC will be hosting two key consumer events of the calendar year in Sydney– the annual Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture (co-hosted with CHOICE) and the National Consumer Congress.
Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture
Tuesday 15 March 2016, Sydney Conservatorium of Music (5:30 - 7:30pm)
Is conscious consumption a responsibility or a right? Do consumer choices really make any difference? And what is the role of consumer organisations and regulators?
The ACCC and...More
The ACCC is reviewing the mandatory safety standard for bunk beds.
Stakeholders are invited to make written submissions on the consultation paper and draft regulation impact statement by close of business 11 April 2016.
Consultation hub is the preferred way of receiving submissions, however stakeholders may also provide submissions via:
Email:
productsafety.regulation@accc.gov.au
Post:
Director
Standards, Policy and Liaison
Consumer Product Safety Branch
Australian...More
The ACCC is consulting on its 17th annual report to the Senate on the private health insurance industry for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.
The ACCC will produce a report that focusses on a key issue identified in the 2013-14 report, namely the issue of policy changes that are not being appropriately communicated to consumers leading to unexpected costs and inadequate coverage.
Specifically, the ACCC is interested in examining:
whether changes to policies are...More
We’re seeking comment on a proposed list of international standards associations to include in a regulation related to product safety standards.
Comments from stakeholders will inform ACCC advice to the Minister who will then decide on the list.
Using trusted international standards for product safety regulation can be better for Australian consumers and for the Australian market. It can make it easier for global suppliers to comply with Australian safety requirements and reduce...More